Vaidhi-bhakti or Raganuga-bhakti?
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![Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura](/images/stories/rays/tn/tn_bhaktivinoda2.jpg)
The meaning of this sloka is that in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sampradaya the practices of vaidhi-bhakti take one to raganuga.
It is not raganuga at first. It begins from vaidhi-bhakti. If one in the line of Srila Rupa Gosvami follows vaidhi-bhakti, that vaidhi-bhakti is really the beginning of raganuga.
Is Guru Really Omniscient?
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/tn/tn_vyasasana.jpg)
Especially, I have instructed the brahmacaris and sannyasis to be very careful. There is no more to tell than what I have told in Badger. Even those who are householders should try to come out from that burning well. Don't again try to enter household life. But hardly anyone is listening to me, so what can I do? This is maya.
The History of Sri Giriraja-Govardhana
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/g/1/a/tn/tn_75.jpg)
I will speak on one history of Giriraja-Govardhana. Giriraja was in the Himalayas. He is the son of Drona. Drona is one of the friends of Himalaya. He had a beautiful son and his name was Giriraja. Though he was little, he was so beautiful. He was decorated by Tamala trees, Kadamba trees, cuckoos, parrots, and everything else. He was loved so much by his father. When anyone would see Giriraja-Govardhana, they would become so attracted to him...
Everything is meant only for Krsna Consciousness
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/g/tn/tn_gurudeva_hand.jpg)
So, every quality can be used in the service of Krsna. If skills and talents are used in this way, that is very good; they must not be used for sense gratification. At the same time, let us also consider this fact: Srila Sanatana Gosvami had a touchstone. He never used it for himself, and in fact he never used it at all...
Mahaprabhu Was Also Very Strict
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/g/1/b/tn/tn_18.jpg)
If you want to love and honor Caitanya Mahaprabhu and you want His mercy to come to you, always remember the pastime of Caitanya Mahaprabhu banishing Chota Haridasa. Do you know that history? You should speak something about it in brief...
Initiations and Other Topics
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![Morning Walk](/images/stories/reports/italy_2010/tn/tn_italywalk1.jpg)
Somebody may say that because in some societies there are no high-class Vaisnavas, there is a need for kanisthas to give initiation...
Two Questions
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/g/1/a/tn/tn_1.jpg)
It is very hard to utter Sri Krsna’s name at the time of death. At that time one’s throat will be choked up. You should speak hari-katha to that person, and chant Lord Sri Krsna's name: “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” If you cannot do this, then chant: “Krsna, Radhe, Rama...
The Creeper Of Devotion Grows
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/g/tn/tn_Gurudeva_portrait.jpg)
The senior disciples of my siksa-guru Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, who have become somewhat weak after his divine departure, are now receiving new life. This was my main objective. I wanted to obey the words of my siksa-guru, to go wherever necessary to re-inspire his disciples and followers, and I think that we have been successful. Many thanks to the devotees who have left everything for the past seven days to come and hear hari-katha. My blessings to all the devotees that they will become very strong...
The Bird in the Sage - Part One
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/tn/tn_germanvyasasana.jpg)
A drunkard might think he has become greatly happy by drinking vast quantities of wine, but actually he is not happy. One who eats the flesh of cows and thinks that he is very happy, is not happy. Such persons are deluded. They don't know what will be the effect of doing such things. So the sages asked, "Please tell us the essence of all the scriptures, by knowing which our soul will be happy...
If We Want to Read Prabhupada's Books
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/g/tn/tn_gurudeva_scarf_450.jpg)
You know that Lord Rama loves His wife, Sita. You know how He loves Sabari, a very low-born lady. He even ate Sabari's food remnants. You know that Krsna took His flute and peacock feather and placed them at Srimati Radhika's lotus feet, saying, "I will not be able to repay you, even if I live for millions of years...
Morning Walk -Sadhu Sanga is Essential
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/g/tn/tn_Guruji.jpg)
Anyone who has as his stayi-bhava (permanent transcendental emotion or relationship) a relation with Krsna in Vraja, in Mathura, in Dvaraka, in Ayodya, in Vaikuntha or anywhere in the spiritual world, and they look towards the spiritual world from the tatastha region, they do not have to come to this world in order to perfect their bhajana. Only if Krsna desires that they come with Him and His pastimes to this world do they come; otherwise not...
The Creeper Of Devotion Grows - Part 2
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/g/tn/tn_Gurudeva_portrait.jpg)
When one’s creeper of devotion matures and one comes to the stage of an uttama-bhagavata, crossing bhava-bhakti and coming to prema-bhakti, at that time the devotee can go to Vraja (the highest abode of the Lord), and especially to Radha-kunda ... from bhava-bhakti up to but not including prema-bhakti, one’s anarthas are sleeping (dormant)...
Levels of Devotion - continued
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/tn/tn_07-Germany-081.jpg)
Try to be like Pariksit Maharaja, who was cursed to die after seven days. He forgot to take any prasadam, and he did not even drink any water during that seven-day period. He did not sleep at all, for he was engaged day and night in hearing Hari-katha. Then, after seven days he left his body without any suffering and went to Goloka Vrndavana. Try to hear with the same absorption as Pariksit Maharaja...
Be Very Careful About This
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/tn/tn_july8.jpg)
Nowadays, especially in European countries and in Russia, devotees think they are very 'rasika'. *[See Endnote 2]. They want rasa (the taste of spiritual mellows). They want to go up to the top of the tree of prema at once. They only want madanakhya-bhava (the highest ecstatic devotional love, situated only in Srimati Radhika). They do not want to follow vaidhi-bhakti. They don't like vaidhi-bhakti.
Honoring The Vaisnava
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/g/1/b/tn/tn_17.jpg)
What is the proper way to utter the name of your gurudeva? If you are offering pranama to him, should you hold your hand in your japa bag and say, "Namah om visnupadaya krsna presthaya bhutale sri srimad bhakti prajnana kesava gosvami iti namine"? What is the proper etiquette? Among the sixty-four limbs of bhakti, the first ten are for guru. Do you remember what they are?
Don't Collect Anything
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![Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja](/images/stories/lectures/g/tn/tn_gdforwalk.jpg)
Try to follow all the principles. Don't divide your heart into fractions. Don't let it go here and there. Be one-pointed to Sri Krsna, as the gopis are. They gave up their husbands, fathers, mothers and children, and even their chastity, Vedic injunctions, and fear of society's accusations. They are one-pointed. If you can do this, then, very soon, in one human birth, you can attain up to the devotional stage of asakti or rati (transcendental ecstasy), and after that you can attain prema...
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